On Thursdays we review albums that are considered “classic”. This week we will review the classic Wu-Tang Clan LP, GZA’s Liquid Swords. Classic is a word that holds heavy weight within hip-hop music conversations. Today, it is often used as a way to describe current songs, albums and artists that will one day become a classic, or “future-classic” if you will. Yet, many fans of hip-hop will unwaveringly stand by the statement that the 90’s was the golden era for the art form, full of timeless classics. The 90’s saw the gradual movement of hip-hop into the mainstream and showed that there was a market for hip-hop outside of strictly urban communities. One of these classic groups was the infamous, Wu-Tang Clan. A group comprised of a diverse handful of New Yorkers such as: Founder RZA, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, U-God, Masta Killa, the late Ol’ Dirty Bastard and GZA or The Genius.
Big news day for Kanye West. After appearing on The Ellen Show and releasing his new music video for his Paul McCartney collaboration ‘Only One’, news has surfaced that Kanye’s upcoming line with adidas is coming very very soon. According to Daniel Lindstrom, fashion director of Swedish men’s fashion magazine “Café”, the line will be released in New York in just two weeks. Lindstrom photographed Jerry Lorenzo (founder of “Fear the God”) on Instagram, where he revealed the news. Let’s hope this is true! Check out the photo below, as well as the caption’s English translation.
Justin Bieber went on “Fahlo” last night to apologize for his arrogant behavior in the past year and a half, explaining, “I’m not who I was pretending to be.” In the dark (in lighting and in content) video, Bieber tells the world in a sincere apology, “I’m not that person to say I don’t give a f*ck. I’m not that kid.” We can’t speak for everyone, but we forgive you Bieber. Sure, the kid (man) has done some dumb stuff at times but lets not forget that anything even kind of bad that he does, every media outlet is all over it. What people also forget is all the good that Bieber does. The Biebs holds the record for granting the most wishes (all-time) for the Make a Wish Foundation. I am pretty sure that trumps all the “bad” stuff he has ever done. Check out the full apology below.
To help celebrate Ellen Degeneres’ birthday, Kanye West stopped by The Ellen Show to premiere his new music video for ‘Only One’ and talk about his new family. In the interview Kanye reveals that him and Kim are trying for more children and he also tells Ellen that he hasn’t decided the name of the new album. Ellen even wrote a touching rap for Kanye, and spoke about Kanye’s visionary status. At least Ellen gets it! Check out the interview (in two parts) below!
To kick off 2015 Kanye West released his first collaboration with The Beatles’ Paul McCartney, ‘Only One‘, a ballad in honor of his late mother Dr. Donda West. In the song Kanye sings from the perspective of his mother about Kanye’s new daughter North. Today Kanye took to The Ellen Show to debut the song’s music video. Check out the Spike Jonez directed and Nori co-stared video at West’s website and get the tissues ready.
News today surfaced that HBO is moving forward with the Lorne Michaels produced pilot, titled “Brother In Atlanta”. The series is written by and will star the duo of Late Night With Jimmy Fallon writers Diallo Riddle and Bashir Salahuddin, and is described as a comedy about two struggling entertainers Moose (Salahuddin) and Langston (Riddle) trying to navigate relationships and life in the black mecca of Atlanta, GA. The series will also have reoccuring roles from Maya Rudolph (who will play an R&B diva) and Jaden Smith. The series will begin shooting in Atlanta this spring.
Sometimes rapper have limited budgets for music video and sometimes those videos turn out pretty damn bad. Check out our list of our 7 worst low-budget music videos from some big name rappers. Shout out to the KTT forum for the suggestions.
Any charity is good charity, right? And $1,000 is better than nothing? Yes? No? You be the judge. Either way, ‘Versace’ rappers Migos are catching heat on social media for posting a picture of their charitable endeavors. Why all the controversy? Because they are pictured holding a big check with their donation of a pesky one-thousand dollars to Booker T. Washington High School in Atlanta. This may be the world record for the smallest amount ever written on a big novelty check. Assuming this came from their pockets (and not the label), that is a total of $333.33 per person. $1,000 may be better than nothing, but it probably didn’t all the showmanship to go with it. The bright side is that now Booker T. Washington High School can buy two Lupe Fiasco verses.
Check out the picture and some of the hilarious social media comments below.
BrockHampton, which is the Kevin Abstract led group of young artists, designers, video directors and producers who recently moved to Texas to collaborate on art, just released their new track ‘Bet I’. The track is written, produced, and performed by BrockHampton and mixed and mastered by BrockHampton’s Joba (artwork courtesy of hk). The group consists of Abstract, Matt Champion, hk, BEAR//FACE, RussellBoring, Joba, Merlyn Wood and others (try your best to keep up). Stream ‘Bet I’ below.
“Call your friends, all your friends, go ‘head, whistle. Tell ’em that it’s official. Charles Hamilton is back!” raps Charles Hamilton on his 2009 track, a year where the former XXL Freshman had a lot more buzz than he has today. And after a viral video of him being punched by his former girlfriend and after checking himself into a mental hospital, it seemed like his hype had went away. Now though it appears as “Charles Hamilton is back” as he just released his new track ‘Correct’. Stream the new track below as Charles emotionally raps about his sins and his take on police brutality.
The Early Registration 